Community Stories

Over the past century, corn has become the cultural “stalk” of the community of Agassiz, British Columbia. For five generations, despite many challenges, farmers in the District of Kent have grown corn and hay to feed their dairy cattle. This exhibit...

Discover one of the best-kept secrets on the banks of the Saint Lawrence: Villa Les Rochers, Sir John A. Macdonald and Lady Agnes Macdonald’s summer residence. Canada’s first prime minister spent a lot of time at the villa between 1871 and 1890, but he...

Take a walk down Main Street with the residents of Windsor, Newfoundland, as you explore the vibrant history of this shopping district. Discover the stories behind the street’s many businesses, and learn how immigration and development have affected the...

Venture into the Upper Fraser Valley in the late 19th and early-mid 20th centuries to discover the personalities and tales of those who lived in Chilliwack’s Chinatowns. Learn about the everyday working, social and family lives of Chilliwack’s early...

The region of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, in southwestern Quebec, has a rich and diverse religious heritage that reflects the history and memory of its local communities. Today, the future of churches and the items they house is more uncertain than ever. Come and...

Imagine you were a landless young man without a chance of owning land, what could you do? Where would you go? In the late 1800’s many landless young men travelled west in search of gold and adventure.
This exhibit captures the pioneering spirit of the...

Philip Jackman’s life is the story of a pioneering spirit. From humble beginnings as a farm labourer to a pillar of the community, this Royal Engineer Sapper stayed in Canada after his service and made a noteworthy contribution to British Columbia’s...

Irvin “Bingo” Hauser ran away with the carnival at age 16 and never looked back. This exhibit tells the story of one of Canada's greatest showmen, who began his career as a lion tamer, and later started an exotic animal sideshow. By the 1960s, Bingo...

The “Paris Crew” of Saint John, New Brunswick, is known as Canada’s First World Champions. They won at the International Rowing Regatta in Paris in 1867 — only days after Confederation. These so-called underdogs beat out famed crews from Germany,...

Journey back to 1649 and relive the fascinating tale of Ste. Marie II — a story of tragedy, strength, and perseverance. Although this village was only occupied for one year, research has unearthed a rich story illuminating the early history of Indigenous...

Meet local hero and aviation legend Captain A. Roy Brown. As a highly skilled combat pilot during the First World War, he earned many distinctions, including credit for shooting down Manfred von Richthofen, the “Red Baron.” Throughout the 1930s,...

The roots of the Jewish community in Saint John, New Brunswick, date back to 1783. Explore significant chapters in this community’s rich history through compelling stories and photographs, from the late 18th century to the present day.